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Effects of integrated nutrient management on yield, essential oil composition, and antimicrobial activity of Mentha piperita (L.) 


Citation :- Effects of integrated nutrient management on yield, essential oil composition, and antimicrobial activity of Mentha piperita (L.). Res. Crop. 27: 371-379
NGUYEN Q. TIN, NGUYEN H. HAI AND TRAN T. HUYEN nguyentin2285@gmail.com
Address : Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Submitted Date : 25-02-2026
Accepted Date : 7-04-2026

Abstract

Despite extensive research on peppermint, the combined effects of chemical and organic fertilisation on essential oil yield, composition, and antimicrobial activity remain poorly understood, particularly under Vietnamese field conditions. This knowledge gap limits the development of integrated nutrient management strategies for optimising both oil productivity and bioactive quality. This study evaluated the effects of chemical, organic, and integrated fertilisation regimes on essential oil yield, chemical composition, and antimicrobial activity of peppermint cultivated under field conditions in Vietnam. Six treatments were applied: control (F0), NPK (F1), cow manure (F2), chicken manure (F3), NPK + cow manure (F4), and NPK + chicken manure (F5). Fertilization significantly increased essential oil yield (p < 0.05), with the highest values observed under integrated treatments F4 (1.58%) and F5 (1.61%) compared with the control (1.21%). GC–FID/MS analysis identified 96.55–98.92% of the oil constituents, which were dominated by oxygenated monoterpenes. Menthol (34.13–40.47%) was the principal compound across all treatments. Cow manure (F2) produced the highest contents of menthol (40.47%) and menthyl acetate (10.33%), whereas chicken manure (F3) and chemical fertilisation (F1) increased the proportions of menthone and isomenthone. Fertilisation also enhanced antimicrobial activity against Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. Oils from F2 and F4 showed the strongest activity, with MIC values as low as 72.5 µg/mL against S. aureus and 125 µg/mL against E. faecalis and C. albicans, whereas Gram-negative bacteria, particularly P. aeruginosa, were less susceptible. Overall, integrated chemical–organic fertilisation improved both peppermint oil productivity and menthol-rich antimicrobial quality.

Keywords

Cow manure Mentha piperita menthol chemotype nutrient management 


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